Shoe and heel and arch supporter therefor



Nov. is, 1927. 1,648,907

W. T. M LAUGHLIN SHOE AND HEEL AND ARCH SUPPORTER THEREFOR -Filed May 12. 1927 Fatented Nov. 15, 1927.

UNITED STATES 1,648,907 PATENT 'orrics.

WILLIAM T. MGLAUGELIN, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

SHOE AND HEEL AND ARCH SUPPORTER THEREFOR.

Application filed May 12,

This invent-ion relates to a shoe, the bottom of which includes an outsole, a full length insole, and a heel under the heel portion of the outsole.

The object of the invention is to provide improved means for yieldingly supporting the heel portion and the metatarsal arch portion of the wearers foot, whereby the impact of the outer and inner edge portions of the heel tread on the ground are successively cushioned, the outer edge portion usually contacting with the ground before the inner edge portion, and the metatarsal arch portion is also cushioned, the heel and shank portions of the insole being normally sup ported above the heel and shank portions of the outsole, and adapted to yield when the wearer is standing and walking.

Of the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification,-

Figure 1 is a bottom view of a shoe embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a side view of the same, portions being shown in section on line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view similar to a portion of Figure 2, showing a modification.

Figure & shows in perspective, the supporter and its springs, as indicated by Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary edge view, showing one of the springs and a portion of the supporter.

Figure 6 is a section on line 6-6 of Figure 5. I

Fig. 7 is a plan View, and

Figure 8 is an edge View of one of the springs.

Figure 9 shows one of the springs as in Figure 8, seated on a rubber plug, as shown by Figure 2.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all of the figures.

In the drawings, 12 designates the outsole, 13 the full length insole, and 11 the lift heel of a shoe.

A longitudinal pocket 15 is provided be tween the shank and heel portions of the outsole and insole, and extends from the ball portion of the shoe bottom to the rear end of the heel portion, the top of the pocket being provided by the insole, and the bottom by the outsole.

The form of the pocket is such that the supporter 16, next described, is adapted to extend from the ball portion between the 1927. Serial No. 190,767.

shank portions of the soles, and overlie a portion of the heel 14c, and to move up and down in the pocket, the shank and heel portions of the insole being free to rise and fall.

The supporter 16 is an elongated strip of sheet metal, preferably soft steel, and is inserted loosely in the pocket, its thickness be ing much less than the maximum depth of the pocket. The supporter is of angular form, as indicated by Figures 1 and 1, and includes a rear arm extending diagonally from a point over the outside edge portion 14 of the heel to a point over the inside edge portion 1 1 and a forward arm extend ing diagonally from the heel portion 14 to the ball portion at the median line of the shoe bottom.

Attached to the rear arm of the supporter are'two volute springs 18 and 19, seated in recesses 20, formed in the heel end of the outsole and in the heel 1 1. The spring 18 is over the outside edge portion let of the heel, and the spring 19 is over the inside edge portion 1 1". These springs are adapted to cushion the impact of the heel tread on the ground, as described later.

Attached to the forward arm of the stiffener is a volute spring 21, seated on the outsole 12, in position to cushion the metatarsal arch portion of the wearers foot. The entire supporter and the portions of the insole bearing thereon are yieldingly supported in a raised position by the springs and adapted to yield downwardly to downward pressure of the wearers foot on the insole.

Thevolute form of each spring is such that when the spring is fully compressed, its coils lie in. the same plane, so that the compressibility of the spring is limited only by the thickness of: the Wireof which it is made. I prefer to make the springs of wire which is square in cross section, as indicated by Figure 6. Each spring preferably has a foot portion 23, a partially helical portion 24, and a free end portion 25, formed to bear on the under side of the supporter 16. The foot portions of the springs seated in the recesses 20, may be anchored in rubber plugs 26, secured in said recesses as indicated by Figures 1 and 2, or they may be seated on a lift of the heel, as indicated by Figure The free end portions 25 of the springs are preferably secured to the supporter 16 by a longitudinal flange or lip 28, bent under the body of the supporter at one longitudinal edge thereof. Portions 29 of the flange are offset from the under side of the supporter, to bear on the under sides of the free end portions 25, and are indented to form shoulders 80, hearing on the inner edges of the portions 25, as shown by Figures 5 and 6.

The described construction provides a shoe adapted to be Worn with comfort by persons afi'licted with the troubles known as flat foot and broken arches, and by persons who have to stand for long periods.

The arrangement of the rear supporter arm, and of the springs 18 and 19, shown by Figure 1, causes the cushioning by the spring 18 of the outside edge of the heel tread, which is the first portion to strike the ground, and then the cushioning of the inside edge of the heel tread by the spring 19, the two springs coming into action successively, This arrangement conduces to the comfortable support of the wearers heel. The forward spring 21 enables the forward arm of the supporter to comfortably support the metatarsal arch portion.

I claim:

1. A heeled shoe having a longitudinal pocket between the shank and heel portions .of its outsole and insole extending from the ball to the rear end of the heel, a sheet metal at an angle to each other, the rear armextending from a point over the outside edge portion of the shoe heel, to a point over the inside edge portion thereof, while the forward arm extends diagonally from the lastmentioned point to the ball portion at the median line of the bottom, a pair of rear the impact of the heel on the ground, and a forward spring attached to the forward arm and seated on the outsole 1n positlon to cushion the metatarsal arch of the wearers foot, the entire supporter and the portionsof the insole bearing thereon being yieldingly supported by the springs. f

2. An insole-supporting attachment as specified by claim 1, the springs being of volute' form and the supporter being provided at one edge with a longitudinal flange projecting under the top convolutions of the springs and having indentations engaged with the inner margins of said convolutions.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature. 1

NVILLIAM T. MCLAUGHLIN.. 

